December 21, 2014

Five people have died from an outbreak of listeriosis. An initial investigation indicates that commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples are the likely source, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Twenty-eight people in 10 states have been reported as being infected with the outbreak strains of Listeria monocytogenes, according to the CDC. The agency reports that 26 ill people have been hospitalized.

The Minnesota Department of Health has reported four illnesses. The individuals involved in the Minnesota cases purchased caramel apples from Cub Foods, Kwik Trip, and Mike’s Discount Foods, which carried Carnival brand and Kitchen Cravings brand caramel apples. These two brands are no longer available for purchase at retail locations, the FDA said.

December 18, 2014

Even though Buckyballs have been recalled, U.S. PIRG staff are able to buy them on the Internet

For nearly 30 years, the U.S. PIRG Education Fund has conducted an annual survey of toy safety, and each year it continues to find harmful toys for sale.

Among the toys surveyed this year, it found many toys with choking hazards and five toys with toxins exceeding federal standards.

Standards for toy safety are enforced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Safety standards include limits on toxics in children’s products, size requirements for toys for small children, warning labels about choking hazards, measures to keep magnets and batteries inaccessible, and noise limits.

The problems the staff who conducted the review found include:

Lead. Childhood exposure to even low levels of lead can undermine development, damaging academic achievement and attentiveness. The staff found unsafe levels of lead in one set of play sheriff and police badges.

December 14, 2014

Lenovo is recalling about 500,000 AC power cords in the United States and 44,000 in Canada.

The AC power cord can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards, the company and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

No incidents or injuries have been reported in the U.S. or Canada. However, Lenovo has received reports from outside the U.S. of 15 incidents involving overheating, sparking, melting, and burning. No injuries were reported.

Due to limited availability of replacement parts, Honda will prioritize vehicles in the high-humidity areas of the U.S. that were previously recalled, the article said.

Ford and Chrysler also said Wednesday they will recall more vehicles with Takata Corp passenger-side air bags, due to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration request, according to the Reuters article “Ford Expands Recall of Takata Airbags.”

The NHTSA said that defective Takata air bag inflators in certain vehicles can rupture and spray metal shards.

The agency said its decision on driver’s side air bags is based on the its evaluation of a recent air bag failure in a vehicle outside the regional recall area.

Consumers can determine if their vehicles are being recalled by going to www.safercar.gov/vinlookup and entering their vehicle identification number or VIN.

November 30, 2014

The steering control arm component can break under normal use, causing the driver to lose control and crash, the company and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

Control arm failure has been reported in 22 incidents, including failure during use and initial set-up. There have been no reports of injuries.

The CRZ and XRZ model riding mowers have a chassis with an adjustable10-gauge green steel mower deck. The frame, fuel tank, engine compartment, and side discharge chute are made of black metal and plastic components. They have four black wheels, two user-operated lever-arm controls, and a gray adjustable high-back seat.

November 23, 2014

Graco is recalling about 4.7 million strollers in United States, about 202,000 in Canada, and about 10,300 in Mexico.

The folding hinge on the sides of the stroller can pinch a child’s finger, posing a laceration or amputation hazard.

Graco has received 11 reports of finger injuries including six reports of fingertip amputation, four reports of partial-fingertip amputation, and one finger laceration, the company and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

November 16, 2014

Venmar Ventilation is recalling about 108,000 air exchangers in the United States – with an additional 77,500 previously recalled in March 2007, December 2007, and June 2011 – and about 207,000 in Canada.

The motor in the air exchangers can overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers, the company and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

Venmar Ventilation has received four new reports related to this recall expansion. In previous recalls, Venmar Ventilation reported 26 incidents, for a total of 30.

Out of these 30 incidents, five took place in the U.S. and 25 occurred in Canada. All incidents resulted in fires and more than $1.1 million in property damages. No injuries have been reported.

November 02, 2014

Components in the front gear case can fail, posing a risk of loss of control and crash hazard, the company and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

Arctic Cat has received 44 reports of parts in the front gear case failing, including 10 reports of the vehicle stopping abruptly or the operator losing of control of the ATV. Four of the reported cases involved injuries, including broken ribs and knee and back injuries.